Clay spreader



Get. 14, 1930. R KINNARD ET AL 1,778,324

CLAY SPREADER Filed Oct. 3, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l gnvenfon lZM/iimzarda2 HMlfumard M 61mm,

0ct.l4,' 1930. R KlNNARD ET AL CLAY SPREADER Filed Oct. 3, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet 2 gwmntou 12. M [fin/20rd 1 M ffilmard Patented Oct. 14,1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT M. KINNARD AND FRANK M. KINNARD,OF SEBRING, OHIO CLAY SPREADER Application filed October 3, 1929. SerialNo. 397,039.

The invention relates to spreaders for use in potteries for batting outclay, preparatory to placing the clay in the molds for forming dishesand the like, and more particularly to 1 5'5 improvements over LettersPatent No. 1,430,309 issued September 26, 1922, to Frank M. Kinnard,Letters Patent No. 1, l81,913 issued January 29, 1924:, to Frank M.Kinnard and Robert M. Kinnard and Letters 11 Patent No. 1,513,602 issuedOctober 28, 1924:, to Frank M. Kinnard and Robert M. Kinnard.

The patents above referred to show clay spreaders provided with aspreader tool and a stationary block for receiving a ball of clay,

either the tool or the block being movable toward the other forspreading the clay ball to form a bat therefrom, the block in each casehaving only a single working face.

The object of the present improvement is to provide a clay spreadercomprising a spreader tool mounted upon a shaft journaled in astationary framework, a double-faced block being mounted for swingingand rotary move- 2. ment whereby a ball of clay may be placed upon oneside of the block, the block being then rotated to bring the ball ofclay into engagement with the spreader tool while the finished bat isremoved from the other side of 1 .3 the block and a new ball of clayplaced thereon, thus considerably speeding up the operation of theapparatus. I

The above and other objects may be attained by constructing theapparatus in the '35 manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved clay spreader; V

Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view through the same; 1 i

Fig. 3, a fragmentary section on the line 8, Fig 2; Fig. 4, a verticalsection through the up 5 per portion of the machine taken substantiallyat right angles to Fig. 2;

Fig. 5, a top plan view of the apparatus; Fig. 6, a detached plan viewof the spreader tool; and

Fig. 7, a detail perspective view of one of the cam plates forcontrolling the rotation of the double-faced block.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

The machine is mounted upon a base 10, preferably in the form of ahollow casting, having the bearing bracket 11 located at one side,preferably near the lower end thereof, and provided with the spacedbearings 12.

The drive shaft 18 is ournaled in the bearings 12 and a thrust plate 14and set screw 15 may be provided for contact with the outer end of theshaft for taking up the end thrust.

A friction disk 16 is fixed upon the inner end of the drive shaft,within the hollow base, and frictionally contacts with the frictionpulley 17 mounted upon the vertical shaft 18, the lower end of which maybe journaled in a bearing 19 at the bottom of the base.

The upper end of the shaft 18 is keyed or splined to the tubular shaft:20 which is vertically slidable upon the shaft 18.

The tubular shaft 20 journaled at its lower portion within the bearing21 carried by the vertically movable bracket 22, a collar 23 being fixedupon the tubular shaft above and below the bearing 21.

The bracket 22 is provided with a nut 2 f engaged by the verticaladjusting screw 25 jourualed in bearings 26 within the base and providedwith a hand wheel 27 for rotating the screw in order to raise or lowerthe bracket 22 and with it the tubular shaft 20.

The upper end portion of the tubular shaft is journaled in a bearing 28which may be fixed upon the top of the hollow base and the s n'cadertool indicated generally at 29 is carried by the upper end of saidshaft.

This spreader tool comprises the hub por tion 30 and the radiallvdisposed wings 81 which may be formed integral with the hub. The hub andwings may be formed of cast aluminum or the like, each wing beingprovided with the beveled upper face 32 upon which is fixed a hardenedblade 33.

A curved guard plate 34: may surround the spreader tool above the top ofthe base, and a pair of spaced bracket arms 35 extend rearwardly fromsaid guard plate and may be ill , provided for holding the cap 49 uponprovided with a table or shelf 36 at their upper ends for receivingtools or the like.

The frame 37 is pivoted between the bracket arms as by the shaft 38 andprovided with the spaced bearings 39 within which is journaled the shaft40 carrying the circular clamp 41 at its free end. The double-surfacedblock 42 is clamped within the clamp ring 41 and provided with the twoworking surfaces 43 and 44 located at opposite sides of the block. 'Ahandle 45 is fixed upon the clamp ring for operating the block. I

A pair of similar cam plates 46 are carried by the bracket arms 35 forcooperation with the stud 47 extending through opposite sides of theshaft 40.

A pair of oppositely disposed caps 48 and 49 may be mounted upon theouter end of the .shaft 40, a coil spring 50 being interposed betweenthe caps and a screw 51 being am shaft and adjusting the tension of thespring.

F or the purpose of moistening the clay ball, a water pipe 52 may beprovidea terminating in the reduced nozzle portion. adapted to spray afine stream of water upon the tool. In order to intermittently operatethis stream of water, the valve 54 may be provided with a stem 55connected to the shaft 38. i

Thus as the frame 37' is swung upon its pivot, the valve 54 may beintermittently opened and closed to spray Water upon the spreader toolas the block is lowered into operative position.

In operating the machine, the shaft 13 may be continuously driven fromany suitable source of power connected by a belt or the like to thedrive pulley 56 continuously rotating the spreader tool. T'Vith the,block in lowered position as shown in Figs. 2,4 and 5, a ball of clay ofsuitable size is placed upon the top surface 43 of the block. The

' handle 45 is teen grasned and the block is i l share raised to thebroken line lfig. 4. 7

At this point the pin 47 is disengaged from the cam plates 46arnd theblockis rotated upon the axis of the shaft 40, bringing the surface 43on the under side of t ie block and the surface'44 on the top thereof. The frame 37 is then swung back into the normal position the pin 47engaging the cam plates 46 and preventing further rotation of the theblock reaches the operative poposition shown in sition. I

The ball of clay carried by the surface 43, which is now upon the underside of the block, is engaged by the rotating spreader tool and quicklyspread and formed intoa thin hat of uniform thickness havin a smoothsurface, the clay having been moistened by the spray of water from thenozzle 42 upon the tool as the block is lowered into position.

While the bat is :being formed upon the under side of the block thefinished bat is removed from the upper side and a new ball of clayplaced thereon and the operation is continued as above described.

In this way it will be seen that the operation of the machine is greatlyspeeded up as the finished bat is removed and a new ball of clay placedupon the block while a bat is being formed upon the under side of block.Thus the machine is never idle to permit removal of the finished productand the placing of new material in position.

T1 e'counterweight 57 upon the frame 37 counterbalances the weight ofthe block 42 and assists the operator in raising and lowering the block.

Vi e claim:

1. A spreader including a rotating spreader tool and a movable blockhaving opposite working faces arranged tov be alternately moved intoposition adjacent to the spreader tool.

2. A spreader including a rotating spreador tool mounted upon a verticalaxis and a movable block having opposite working faces arranged to bealternately moved into horizontal position adjacent to the spreadertool.

3. A spreader including a rotating spreader tool, a movable blockarranged to be'moved into position adjacent to the spreader tool andmeans for spraying water upon the tool.

' 4. A spreader including a rotating spreader tool, a movable blockhaving opposite working faces arranged to be alternately moved intoposition adjacent to the spreader tool, and means controlled by themovement of the block toward the spreader tool for spraying water uponthe tool.

5. A spreader including a rotating spreader tool and apivoted blockhaving opposite 'working' faces arranged to be alternately moved'intoposition adjacent to the spreader tool.

6. A spr ader including a rotating spreader tool, a pivoted frame, and ablock swivelled upon the'fra-me and having opposite working facesarranged to be alternately moved into position. adjacent to the spreadertool.

7. A spreader including arotating spreader tool, a pivoted frame, and ablock mounted upon the frame and having. opposite working faces arrangedto be alternately moved'into position adjacent to the spreader tool- Intestimony that we claim theabove, We

have hereunto subscribed our names;

ROBERT M. KINNARD. FRANK M. KINNARD.

